Panama has officially informed Beijing of its decision to withdraw from China's massive infrastructure and investment project, the Belt and Road Initiative, the country's leader announced on Thursday.

Following Donald Trump’s repeated claims that the US needs to “ take back ” the Panama canal from Chinese control, the US secretary of state, Marco Rubio, visited Panama to demand the country reduce China’s influence. On the surface, it seems Rubio has succeeded.

Panama's decision to leave a key investment deal with China has drawn accusations from Beijing of "pressure and coercion" by the Trump administration.